Plugable Thunderbolt 4/USB4 HDMI docking station. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Plugable Thunderbolt 4/USB4 HDMI docking station is $290 (with 5% off coupon on Amazon) on the time of writing.
- This well-made, fully-featured Thunderbolt 4 docking station comes with all of the ports you’d count on, plus a separate USB-C to HDMI dongle for programs that assist twin shows.
- An enormous, cumbersome exterior energy provide takes up a giant chunk of desk area, and twin show is just supported on Professional and Max Apple Silicon programs, (all Home windows programs that includes Thunderbolt ports are supported).
A fantastic function of Thunderbolt is that with a appropriate dock, you possibly can flip a single USB4, Thunderbolt 4/3, USB-C port into a complete array of helpful ports, making it wildly helpful for professionals who demand greater than the scant ports out there on even high-end laptops.
Additionally: This 200W charging beast can power six devices at once (and it’s smaller than you’d think)
The Plugable Thunderbolt 4/USB4 HDMI docking station not solely turns a single Thunderbolt 4 port into just about each port you might want, it prices lower than $300.
ZDNET RECOMMENDS
Plugable Thunderbolt 4/USB4 HDMI docking station
This Thunderbolt 4 docking station is compatible with Windows 10 and newer and macOS 11.2 and newer. Dual display is available on M1 Pro/Max, M2 Pro/Max, and M3 Pro/Max Apple Mac systems, along with all Windows systems featuring Thunderbolt ports.
Plugable TBT4-UDX1 Thunderbolt 4/USB4 HDMI docking station tech specs
- 11 port growth: 1x upstream Thunderbolt 4 port, 2x Thunderbolt 4 ports (40Gbps), 1x HDMI, 4x USB 3.0 (10Gbps), 2.5Gbps Ethernet, UHS-11 SD reader, combo audio jack
- 3x Thunderbolt ports ship as much as 100W charging energy (96W licensed)
- Twin 4K or single 8K show assist (twin show is just out there on Apple Mac M1 Professional/Max, M2 Professional/Max, and M3 Professional/Max programs)
- Comes with USB-C to HDMI adapter
- Works With Home windows 10 and newer, and macOS 11.2
- 2-year guarantee
Plugable Thunderbolt 4/USB4 HDMI docking station. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
There are some things that I at all times take a look at when reviewing a dock.
First, I guarantee that the powers all ship what the spec sheet claims, particularly options similar to energy output and show assist, and the Plugable TBT4-UDX1 Thunderbolt 4/USB4 HDMI docking station delivers on all the guarantees it makes.
Additionally: My search for the best cheap Android tablet is over
I pushed this docking station to its limits in an try and get it to falter (which is the place poorer high quality docks stumble), with as many units and connections as attainable hooked as much as it, and it carried out flawlessly. Attempt as I would, this dock at all times delivered 100% irrespective of the workload.
It’s price making clear that twin show assist is just out there on Apple Mac M1 Professional/Max, M2 Professional/Max, and M3 Professional/Max programs, together with all Home windows programs that includes Thunderbolt ports.
You’ve been warned.
I am no fan of docks that change into scorching in use, and I’ve seen some get to the purpose the place they’re uncomfortable to the touch, so that is one thing I examine. Once more, this dock stays comfortably cool to the contact irrespective of how laborious it’s labored, so no worries there.
The ports are all well-spaced on the docking station, which implies cables might be organized and set out in a method that is not cluttered. When ports are too shut collectively on a dock, it may result in a tangle of cables but additionally enable ease of entry to all of the ports, irrespective of how huge the machine in query.
Additionally: The best portable monitors: Tested and reviewed
The dock is powered by an exterior 135W/20V energy adapter, which is required to run the docking station and push the 100W charging energy to the ports. The draw back is that this glossy dock then requires a quite cumbersome exterior energy provide that takes up a reasonably large chunk of desk area, and that you must plan on having a free energy outlet shut at hand, which for laptop computer customers who’re on the transfer, might be restrictive.
ZDNET’s shopping for recommendation
Plugable makes great gear at affordable prices, and the TBT4-UDX1 Thunderbolt 4/USB4 HDMI docking station is not any exception. You get to rework a single USB4, Thunderbolt 4/3, USB-C port into an assortment of helpful ports, increasing the capabilities of recent port-limited laptops and desktops.
And all this for beneath $300 makes this Thunderbolt 4/USB4 HDMI dock a fantastic purchase.